The Switzerland County FFA chapter held its annual “Queen of Hearts” pageant last Sunday afternoon, and junior Sydney Pike was crowned as this year’s winner. She competed in a field of nine contestants.
The contest is unique in that its primary focus to for the contestants to demonstrate leadership and scholastic achievement. Each of the candidates is asked to develop a community platform as part of the competition, and during the pageant each will be asked to share their platform with the judges and the audience, and why that platform is important to the Switzerland County community.
Sydney Pike’s platform for this year’s pageant was the Quercus Grove Food Pantry which is operated by the Quercus Grove United Methodist Church and provides food and other supplies to those in the county who are less fortunate.
The food pantry will now be adopted by the Switzerland County FFA chapter, which will work during the coming year to assist the furtherance of the program for the betterment of the community
Queen Sydney Pike is the daughter of Billy and Tanya Pike of Bennington. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, pep club, and newspaper staff. She has earned inclusion on the ‘All A’ honor roll; and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is junior class secretary; and is a varsity cheerleader. She was the 2004 Edelweiss Teen Princess; and 2005 Miss Switzerland County second runner-up. She plans to attend Northern Kentucky University or University of Southern Indiana to major in business. She was sponsored in the contest by the Schenck Mansion Bed and Breakfast.
The first runner up at Sunday’s pageant was Katie Wright.
Katie Wright is the daughter of B.J. Wright of Garland Road and the late Jerry Wright. She is a member of the pep club, conservation club, drama club and French Club. She is an FFA officer and is on the newspaper staff. She has participated in 4-H for 10 years. She is reigning Edelweiss Princess. She represented Switzerland County in the Indiana State Festivals Association Pageant; and was selected “Class Flirt” by her senior classmates. She plans on attending the University of Southern Indiana in the fall of 2006 and majoring in broadcasting. She was sponsored by Swiss Alps Printing.
Morgan Nay was selected by the judges as the second runner up in the “Queen of Hearts” pageant. She is the daughter of Rodney and Sally Nay of Vevay. She is a member of the pep club, French Club, FFA and choir. She is also a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and the Junior Historical Society. She has earned inclusion on the honor roll and received many 4-H achievements. She participated in The King’s Daughters’ Hospital Junior Leader Association; and plans on attending college to pursue a career in medicine. She was sponsored by Edelweiss Floral.
The contestants in the pageant also selected Miss Congeniality, and this year the winner was Jennifer Foutch. She is the foster daughter of Kathy Tremain of Vevay, and is a member in the flag corps, student council, pep club and high school choir. She has had a poem called “Secret” published in two books; and “I’m Afraid” published in a book, “Bus monitor”. She plans to go to college for four years to receive a bachelor’s degree in social work. She was sponsored by S & S Grocery Store in East Enterprise.
Other contestants in Sunday’s pageant included: Brenna Green, Kara Hudson, Jenna South, Ashley Thornton, and Emilee Waldron.